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Page 9
Campus Review
October 3, 2012
fessional development as their career
goals change.
Q) Why this diverse group of faculty?
A) Because of the interdisciplinary nature
of our programs, the faculty’s expertise in
wide-ranging interests provides the stu-
dents with a multidimensional viewpoint
of the ever changing workplace.
Q) What types of students you will be
serving?
A) Our department services a diverse pop-
ulation. We service traditional, fulltime
students and non-traditional students,
working professionals. Typically, our stu-
dents seek knowledge they cannot acquire
in the traditional academic disciplines;
therefore, they desire the ability to person-
alize a curriculum that will allow them to
reach their personal, professional and
educational goals.
As is the case with the chair of any new
department, Simpson has specific hopes
and aspirations for the Department of
Interdisciplinary Studies.
“First, our hopes for the department are to
promote a curriculum that continues to
meet the needs of our ever-changing soci-
ety so that our students can be success-
ful,” she says. “We want to meet the needs
of the population in our local area, many
of whom are the first in their families to
attend college, the Southern Crescent and
Atlanta, in particular, where many of
Georgia’s leading employers are based;
and finally, the growing need of distance
learners, who are motivated students but
otherwise constrained by geography.
“Second, I’d like to promote faculty
development because our students are bet-
ter prepared when our faculty are well
informed. Faculty support is an important
part of revitalizing and energizing our stu-
dents and our community. Faculty research,
therefore, continues to be the foundation of
our innovative curriculum.”
Clayton State’s current international stu-
dents are Ahmed Al Hussain (MHA) and
Maher Balbaid (MBA) of Saudi Arabia,
Zeynap Bagci (MBA), Serkan Saglam
(MBA) and Taha Kir (MBA) of Turkey,
Lorna O’ Connell (MHA), Laoise
O’Driscoll (MHA) and Donal Roughneen
(MHA) of Ireland, Suvidha Khatri (MHA)
of India, Marjorie Katumba (MSN) of
Uganda, Jabulani Nartey (MBA) of
Zimbabwe, Karl Haggon (MBA) of the
United Kingdom, Josefine Holsten
(MALS) of Germany, Mu’az Nimer
(MBA) of Jordan, and Juho Illi (MBA) of
Finland.
The School of Graduate Studies can also
boast of several international student suc-
cess stories. Three international students
from Turkey, including Sedat Memnun,
Nevzat Saritemur, and Ahmed Ugur, plus
Celest Mapri of Cameroon, have graduated
from the MBA program, while former soc-
cer All-American Nkiru Okosieme of
Nigeria graduated from the MHA program.
“Our international students often tell us that
they find our graduate programs challeng-
ing, rewarding and economical” says Dr.
Robert Vaughan Jr., interim dean of the
School of Graduate Studies, who further
remarks how important international stu-
dents are to Clayton State.
Management, or “ISM”), providing them
with an overview of Clayton State and the
College of Business’ international busi-
ness school “model.”
“They were particularly interested in dis-
cussing best practices in university
administration, curriculum quality man-
agement, distance learning, international
exchange, and university accreditation,”
Parkerson says. “In return, we learned
more about similar practices at ISM and
began exploring whether there might be
opportunities for future collaborations
between our two institutions.”
ISM was established in the capital of
Senegal, Dakar, in 1992 with 25 students.
From left to right: Mbaye Amar, Dr. Thomas J. Hynes, Dr. Awa Yade, Dr. Abdarahmane Kane, John
Parkerson
It currently has 3,000 students from 30
countries and 100 faculty members.
Visiting Clayton State were: Mbaye
Amar, director of programs; Dr. Awa
Yade, dean of doctoral studies; and Dr.
Abdarahmane Kane, director of external
relations.
Parkerson says that the meeting at
Clayton State was a productive one and
that many areas of common interest were
identified. Parkerson and Dr. Ali Dadpay,
director of Clayton State’s MBA program
both stated after the meeting that they
look forward to continued discussions
between ISM and the College of Business,
and to possible collaborations between the
two.
Interdisciplinary, cont’d. from p. 5
International, cont’d. from p. 7
Senegal, cont’d. from p. 7
International, cont’d., p. 12